27 Aug
—
27 Nov
2016

Matt Henry: Long Division

For this new exhibition Henry responds to the architecture of the galleries in which his work is displayed.

'The ‘character’ of a space is something I’m quick to exploit, and most galleries have it in abundance.' - Matt Henry

Matt Henry grew up in New Plymouth and knows the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery intimately. Now, following major renovations and the addition of the Len Lye Centre, Henry is rediscovering the spaces that were once so familiar to him.

Adding layer upon layer, Taranaki-born artist Matt Henry applies paint to Belgian linen that has been meticulously stretched onto cedar wood frames. The resulting surface is free of imperfections: slick, velvety and smooth as if machine-made. This process makes his work captivating, and aids Henry in blurring the lines between industrial design, architecture and art. Henry is a self-described perfectionist, with the deceptive simplicity of his work failing to represent the time and energy spent making it so.

In Long Division, we see Henry utilising the architecture of the gallery spaces and taking advantage of unique features and anomalies. According to the artist, “the ‘character’ of a space is something I’m quick to exploit, and most galleries have it in abundance. I have to admit I prefer more intimate galleries with volumes that approximate domestic or office spaces”. Voodoo Ray, hung low on the wall on the mezzanine level, is not out of place alongside the wayfinding signage next to the lifts. Yet on closer inspection, Henry’s painting betrays a commitment to form over function, revealing its role as that of art rather than utility.

The Govett-Brewster presents Matt Henry’s Long Division as a reflection of its commitment to artists who were born here, have familial ties here, or affiliations to the institution, and consider Taranaki their tūrangawaewae (their rightful place to stand).